Shreveport girl overcomes near-drowning

5:09 PM,
Jun. 20, 2013

ADVANCE FOR THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 22-24 AND THEREAFTER - Shelby Patrick, left, gives a metal and hug to Stephanie Taylor as well as to the others who helped save her life when she was found at the bottom of a pool earlier this year, during the special service at Emmanuel Christian Ministries in Shreveport, La., Sunday, June 16, 2013. (AP Photo/The Shreveport Times, Henrietta Wildsmith) MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT SHREVEPORTTIMES.COM; NO SALES

Written by

Loresha Wilson
Louisiana Gannett

It was an ordinary summer day when Shelby Patrick went to a birthday party at East Ridge Country Club. As the 10-year-old was dropped off, she told her mother the usual "I love you" and her mom, in turn, hugged and kissed the child and said it back.

Less than 15 minutes later, Shelby was fighting for her life after being pulled from the bottom of a pool. It's unknown how long Shelby spent under the crystal clear water. When a bystander pulled her out, the child had no pulse. She wasn't breathing.